12 ways to de-stress ahead of your wedding
24 Jun 2016
Find your inner zen and follow these 12 ways to de-stress ahead of your wedding day
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Image gallery
Getting married to the person you love will be one of the best experiences of your life. But as you’re no doubt aware, the build-up to it could also be one of the most stressful. Here are 12 ways you can ensure you tie the knot with perfect peace-of-mind; the ultimate guide to de-stressing ahead of your big day from Irma Hunkeler of BlueGlass.
1. Get plenty of sleep
Wedding worries can lead to a lack of sleep, which is bad for your health. Poor sleep can make you moody, irritable and lacking in concentration. To ensure you dream of your honeymoon, not seating plans, aim to get around eight hours of sleep every night and do the following:
- Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day
- Turn off all gadgets and gizmos
- Have a bath shortly before bed
- Avoid alcohol
2. Eat smart
There’s a well-established link between eating well and feeling well. Whether you opt for a ‘superfood’ or just start eating that little bit better, eating the good stuff rather than the bad stuff could work wonders for your stress levels.
Nutritionist Naomi Mead says: “Make healthy food swaps. Switching junk food for high-fibre, moderate protein, and low-glycaemic index foods plays an important role in regulating food intake and appetite. Think lean meat and fish, pulses, nuts, wholegrains, fruit and vegetables.”
3. Keep your brain active
Keeping your brain engaged is a good way to bring your stress levels down. Research gathered by bingo experts Wink Bingo suggest playing a game like bingo is good for your thinking capacity - so why not play a game online?
4. Do some meditation
Wedding planning can get a bit overwhelming. Meditation can help with that. Whether it’s practising mindfulness, zen meditation or something else, it’s easy to do and very beneficial. Try some of these morning meditation rituals out for size.
5. Do fun things with your partner
Find things that aren’t about the wedding - be it a film night, weekend bike ride or day out somewhere. Visit England has lots of ideas for days out here.
6. And hang out with your mates
Spending some time with your close friends is a great way to de-stress and unwind - whether it’s evening drinks, a meal out somewhere or just a quick chat on the phone….
7. Reduce your time on social media
Do you think you spend too long on Facebook and Twitter? You don’t have to come off them completely, but reducing your social media activity could well be beneficial - research links frequent internet and social media use to higher levels of stress.
8. Do some exercise
Exercise is a bona-fide stress buster. Getting that blood pumping is one of the best ways to improve your wellbeing. If you’re not currently keeping fit, start by trying to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. This could be anything from walking to work, going for a run, riding a bike, or a spot of gardening and DIY.
9. Keep a diary
Writing your thoughts down is one of the best ways to clear your head and feel better and more in control of things. Start a diary or journal and write down how you’re feeling. It doesn’t have to be every day, just when you feel like it. Check out something like Journalate, a free online journal platform.
10. Ask if you need help
The lead-up to a wedding can get busy and frantic. If you need a hand with something, don’t be afraid to ask. Whether it’s some last-minute organising, researching photographers, starting the guest list or something else, just shout. Friends and family will be willing to lend a hand. Compile a wedding planning to-do list to make sure you’ve got everything covered.
11. Treat yourself
Amid the hustle and bustle of wedding planning, it’s easy to forget about yourself. Whether you treat yourself to a spa day, book a day off work and do nothing or just pamper yourself, make sure you make some time just for you.
12. Smile!
Smiling is good for you, with studies showing that flashing a smile can reduce stress-enhancing hormones while boosting mood-enhancing ones. Think about your big day and all that’s to come afterwards. It’ll all be worth it!
